Railway crossing



Nov. 13, 1928.

- 1,691,078 D.'C. MULVIHILL RAILWAY CROSSING Filed May 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l 27 16 26 Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,078

' D. C. MULVIHILL RAILWAY CROS SING Filed may 5, 192 8- a Sheets-Shet 2 33 39-, 4e 36/ 36 41 36 33 10, Lu 1 4 /l\ I l i V/ ////i V A 3 4 A V A1 5 34 JQ' P34 [119000000001190000-0000E1I VII/1 VIII/[IA 36 36 D GJZZMUMZ- Nov. 13, 1928.

D. C. MULVIHILL RAILWAY CROSSING 3 I o oo v w w mm S t 5 w 5 h S 0000 00 3 5 oo 00 f o 00 mm 00 O0 a 0o 00 w. 000 000 5.. 7 00000 00000 0 4 0000000 0000000 W5 M 00 1 d e oo o l i 000 00 F 0000 00 000000 000 ooooooao ooo oooooooloooooooooo I, \l.\J:il-: PI O00 0 oo o 000 0 6 000 00 03!!! 0000 00 000000 0000 000000000 oooooo Patented Nov.

men. 0. ,MULVIHILLQYOIF HAN'NI BAL, iv'ussonn RAILWAY ammo.

' hppl iat ionflled may 5, 1928; Serial no.'z75,423.

I 'lhisinvention relates-to railway crossings, and more particularly to the means tor supporting and inaintainii'ig the parts in position. j i i One of the objectsfoit the invention is the provision of new and improved means t0'r supportingthe plates of a railway cros'sii'ig.

Anotherobject ot the invention isthe provisionof new and iniprovedineaiis for secur-v so constructed that it may b e'atta'ched or removed in sections and when in 'ios'ition will be seciirely interlockedwiththe running .rails. l

I Another object'ofth'e invention is the provision ofa new and improved railway -crossingthat is cheap tonianutactiire, easily as"- senibled, the parts readily removable, that may be firmly secured in position, and that is eiiicient and durable in use. 7

Other and further objects and advantages oidthe invent-ion will appear from'fthe ffollowing description taken in 'c'oiin'ection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation o'fthe crossing showing one Ofth'etrack rails 'reinove'da'nd the ties in section i I v Fig. 2 is a perspective view of aportio'n of a railway track disclosing the 'n'ie 'thod ofattaching the crossing; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the plates; V

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the end guard members; Fig. 5 is a s'e'ction'on-line 5 5 of Fig. 2;: Fig. 5"is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. '2; 5 Fig. 6 is a section'o'n line 6 6 of Fig. 2'; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig.'5showing a slightly modified torin of'construction;

Fig. 8 is a View siinilar to 1 showing itlDOCllfiGCl form of construction; 5 Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view ot'the cross- 4 ing shown in Fig. 8; i Fig. 10 is a perspective View or one of the plates; c a V Fig/11 is a perspective View of one oflthe supports;

thereon; v Fig. 14: 13 5! section on line 1l1 1 o'tFig. 9

Fig. 12 is a perspectiveviewof onejof the gnaitliiicmbersj p I p I 1g. 131s a transverse section of one oi the rails showing the invention in pos tion Fig. 15 is a top plan view of a portionof tlilfillivtly track show ng a modified form oi'the invention in Josfition thereon" thegnard rails;aiid p Fig. 18 is view similar to Fig.6. but

showing a modified f0l111'0f means for att ach'ing-the' plates to their supports.

Reterr'ing now to the drawings, the. refer;

ence character 10 designates the track rails, eachof which has thel sualjflange ll and ball or wheel engaging portion 12. The ties are shown. at 18. p v I V V 'Ihecrossing comprises a'plurality of plates 14 ii 111011 are preferably, though not necessari'ly of cast metal] Each plate which. will be considered as ektendinglengthwise oftlie rails for convenience cit description, is coin-1 paratively short and isot a width to extend Fig. 16 is a section onfline 16 16 of 17 islape'rspective view atom of f between therails to within a short distance of the. of the rails. They are spaced from the rails siitficiently to provide roper clearance for thewheel flanges itch plate is rigidly connect-ed at one end to asu pqrting inernber 15 As shown in Figs. 1 to 7, thissiipport is an inverted railway rail, the flange 16 being rigidly connected to the end of the plate 1 1' as by means of the rivets 17. The plate exitends only to the central portion of the flange track rail and'rest -on the flange 11 o'fsaid One or more ntermediate supports 22 rail.

whereby the rail will also snpportthe ad I The rail loo are rigidly secured to theinterrnediate portion of said plate, These supports extend bey n the i e edges of the plates and'their ends are'coped or groovedto provide clearance for the car wheel flanges. "They are'ot a length to passbetween the ballsof the rails, T

provided with openings 23 which are adapted to register with corresponding openings 24 in the'flanges 16 of the end supports 15, and are secured thereto by any suitable means, such as the bolts 26. SeeFigs. 1 and Q.

In assembling the plates 14 between the track rails, the plate is turned at an angle to the tracks and the free end 25 slightly elevated, as shown in Fig. 2, which will permit the ends of the supports 18 to be inserted between the balls and flanges oi therails, after which the platemay be moved parallel with the track with the end 25 resting on flange 16 of the adjacent support 18. Suitable fastening means are then inserted in the holes 23 and 24 for clamping the parts together. j

A suitable guard plate 27,1nay be provided for each end ot' the crossing. This plate is adapted to be attached to one of the supports and is curved downwardly at its outer end for xtending to a position adjacent to the ties or road bed, as is usual in such constructions.

in constructing the crossing, one of these plates 27 rigidly connected to the support 28 is first placed in position, after which the remaining plates 14 are placed in nositionin the manner previously described, and the free ends 25 ot' the plate'14 are rigidly connected to the, flange 29 of the support 28 by bolts or other tastening'means. The guard plate at the opposite end of the track will, or course, notbe provided with a support 28 because the guard rail would be attached directly to the flange 16 of the outer support 18.

' If the crossing is designed for a single railroad track, approaches are provided at each side oi the track. A supplemental rail 31 is secured in the pavement at each side of the track and is spaced therefrom the same distance as the rails are spaced apart, whereby the plates employed for the crossing between the supplemental rails and the track are preferably, though not necessarily, oi the same dimensions as those between the track rails so that the parts are all interchangeable. If desired, plate 14" may be provided on each end thereof with a downwardl and laterally extending curved portion forming a wheel flange guard 32. See Fig. 7. The flange guard is adapted to tit into the coped portion 19 of the support 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. V

The form. of the device shown in Figs. 8 to 14 differs from that just described in that instead of using inverted rails for supports for the plates 33, T-bars are employed for this purpose. Each plate 33 is provided with a T-bar 84, which is rigidly attached thereto and extends beyond the ends of the plate in the same manner as the bars 18 in Fig. The ends of the bars 34 are coped as at for acconn'nodating the whcel flanges as in the previous construction. One or more interncdiate supports 36, similar to the inter mediate support 22 in the previous construction, is also provided. If desired, instead of extending these supports the full width of the plate, short sections may be employed as shown in Fig. 9.

The free end 01' the plate 33 is provided with suitable openings 37 by which the same is adapted to be attached to an adjacent support 38 in the manner previously described. The guard member 89 is substantially the same as the guard member 27, previously described.

.Suitable anti-slipping devices or projections may be provided on the plates 515. These projections may be made in any convenient manner. As shown in Fig. 14, they may be made by punching holes partly through the plate whereby the materialwill' be elevated and provided with sharp edges.

If desired, suitable means may be provided for holding the bolts 42 in elevated position in the openings in 'said'flanges while the plates are being attached. Any appropriate means may be employed for this purpose.

. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the webs 43 of the supporting bars38 are provided with holes in which the bolts 44 may be secured with the heads 45 beneath the bolts 42, whereby said bolts will be held in elevated position.

In a similar manner, the bolts 26 may, if desired, be held in position by any suitable means as the bolts 40, while the platesare being attached. 7

In assembling the parts, the bolts 26 or 42 are placed in the flanges, atter which the bolts 40 or 44 are secured in position in the webs 15 or 48. The plates 83 may then be placed in position, atterwhich the nuts may be placed on the bolts 42 to hold the plates in position.

A further modified form of construction is Y shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17 In this form of construction, guardrails 46 may be secured on ties adjacent to the track rails 10 and an intermediate rail 47 secured along the longitudinal center line of the track. The

plates 48 which are in all respects similar to the plates 14 or 33 except that they are narrower, are secured between the'intermediate rail 47 and the guard rails-46 in the'manner described above. These plates are mounted on supports 49, 'similar to the supports 18,

.22, 36 and 38, described above.

It is understood that theheightof the supports when in position on the rail flanges is such that the upper surface of the plates will be flush with the upper surface of the track rails. This will necessitate using lighter rails than the track, rails Where inverted rails are employed as supports -lor the plates. j V

The flange guard 51 is adapted to. be mounted between each track rail andthe guard rail 46. This guard is placed in po sition by slipping itin from the end otthe guard rail. It is provided with a depression for accommodating the'flange otthe car wheel. A supplemental rail 53 may be secured inthe concrete at each side of the road bed, at sulhcient" distance from the track rails for accommodating the platesAS which are attached in the manner previously described.

- Guard members 54 may be attached at their outer ends'to the crosstie and at their inner ends to the supports 55for prevei'i'ting.

the movement of the crossing longitudinally oi the track rails.

The platesinay be connected to .the supports in any suitable'm'anner, as by means of U-b'ol'ts instead of straight bolts or rivets.

' In'Fig. 18 is shown such a construction,

wherein the plates 14 are secured'to the sup ports 15 by means of U-bolts 56. By means of this arrangement 'the"construction unit comprising the plate and support may be readilyassembled and the U-bolt held in po-' sition for engaging the end of anadjacent plate when the same is placed in position between the track rails.

While in the form of construction shown the parts are all of metal, it'is understood that they may be of wood or other suitable materials.

It is thought. from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A railway crossing comprising a plurality of similar units connected together, each unit comprising a plate having openings through one end thereof, a support rigidly connected to the opposite end of said plateand extending beyond the sides and end thereof. and an intermediate support rigidly secured to said plate and extending parallel to said first named support, the ends of said supports being coped to provide clearance for a railway wheel flange.

2. A railway crossing comprising a pluralit-y of similar units connected together, each unit comprising a plate having openings across one end thereof, a flanged support secured to the opposite end of said plate and sides of the jcrack'support-s and spaced therefrom, a plurality of supports interlockedwith i said track rails and supported thereby, aplurali'ty ofplates ri idly connected to said su'pports to form a rigidcrossii'ig between the track rails,a plurality of supports extend-- ing between said track and auxiliary rails and interlocked therewith and supported tl'iereby, and a plurality oi'plates rigidly connected to said supports for forming a rigid crossing between said auxiliary and track rails.

A railway crossing comprising a pair of track rails, supports extending between said rails and resting on the flanges thereo t,

said supports being longer than the dis'tance between the balls of said rails, said supports having the upper portion 'ojftheir ends coped to provide clearance for the flanges oi acar wheel, aplurality of plates,iand means for rigidly securing said plates tos'aid supports. "5. In combination, a paiiroftr'ack rails, a plurality of plates arranged end to end between said rails, a support beneath each joint formed by the abutting ends of said plates, and means for/rigidly securing said plates to said supports, said supports resting on the flanges and extending beneath the balls of said rails.

6. In combination, a pair of track rails, a plurality of plates arranged end 'to end be;- tween said rails, a support beneath each joint formed by the abutting ends of said plates, means for rigidly securing said plates to said supports, said supports resting on the flanges and extending beneath the balls of said rails, and intermediate supports rigidly'secured to said plates between the ends thereof and rest- .I

said intermediate support-s being less than the distance between the balls of said rails.

7 In a railway crossing, a pair of rails, a plurality of similar units rigidly connected together between said rails, each unit comprising a plate, a support consisting of an inverted rail, means for rigidly connecting one flange of said rail to one end ofsaid plate,

with said plate terminating short of the edge 7 of the oppositeflange, the opposite flange 6rsaid inverted ra1l bQIIIgiLPQItLH'GCl to receive means for fastening the end of an adjacent plate tosaid flange, said support being of sufiicient length to engage beneath the balls of said first named rails and to be supported.

by the flanges thereof, said support being provided with a transverse depression at each 7 tween the track'rails in spaced relation thereto, a curved shield rigidly secured to the side edges of said plates for providing clearance for, the flanges of car Wheels, supports bei'ieath said plates and rigidly secured thereto, said supports being interlockedwith the track rails for supporting and preventing removal of said plates, and a down-turned guard plate at each end of said crossing rigidly secured to the outermost supports. 7 V

9. In combination, a plurality of parallel rails, a plurality of plates between said rails, a support beneath each end portion ofeach plate, and means for rigidly connecting said plates to said supports, certain of said supports being of a length greater than the distance between theballs of said rails and having their ends resting on the flanges of said rails beneath said balls for interlocking said supports and plates to said rails;

10. Ina railway crossing, a pair of'rails spaced apart in parallel relation, a plurality of plate units connected together end to end between said rails, each unit comprising a plate having apertures in one end thereof, a support beneath the other end portion of said plate, means for rigidly securing said support to said plate, said support being of a length sufficient to rest on the flanges of said rails beneath the balls thereof, whereby each of said units may be removed trom said cross ing by disconnecting the same from adjacent units, elevating the said aperturcd end thereof and moving the same in a direction diagonal to said rails.

11. In a railway crossing, a pair of rails spaced apart in parallel relation, a plurality of plate units arranged end to end bet-ween saidrails to form a crossing, each unit comprising a plate adapted to be inserted between the balls of said rails and a support comparatively narrow as compared Withthe length of said plate rigidly connected with the under side of an end portion of said plate, of a length greater than the distance between the balls of said rails and adapted to engage the flanges of said rails directly beneath said balls and of a height to extend adjacent to the under sideof said balls. 7

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

DANIEL C. MULVIHILL. 

